You may have noticed some newspaper advertisements appearing recently in the Sunshine Coast Daily and the Buderim Chronicle letting readers know about the Buderim Foundation’s grants program.

 Or you may have heard one of the many radio spots encouraging community organisations to lodge a grant application.

 This advertising program is part of a media partnership between Sunshine Coast Newspaper Co, community radio station 104.9 Sunshine FM and the Buderim Foundation.

 Foundation Board member and marketing chair, Amber James, said this year’s grants program was officially launched on 10 June with a much bigger bang than ever before with the support of the media partnership.

 “The traffic to the Foundation’s website has spiked like never before this month and we put that down to the growing interest in the Foundation across the community and the ever so generous support from our media partners,” Mrs James said.

 “Last year’s round of grants delivered more than $75,000 to 23 community groups and this year’s grant pool is shaping up to hand out even more funds,” Mrs James said. “Supporting our community is about more growth = more grants = more smiles!”

 The concept of a community foundation, and its ability to give grants, is simple. Donations to the Buderim Foundation are carefully invested and the interest (or income earned from the investment) is distributed as grants for community projects. Donations, however small, are never spent so the donor’s gift to the community lasts forever.

 Station Manager of Sunshine FM, Sue Gilbert said it was a no brainer for the community radio station to support the annual Buderim Foundation grants program.

 “We are huge supporters of the Foundation because they are an impressive philanthropic organisation focused on giving out grants to further improve our community,” Mrs Gilbert said.

 “Not one dollar of money donated to the Foundation is spent on admin thanks to the support of the Foundation sponsors and media partners.

 “It’s a powerful point of difference and wonderful to know that 100% of all donations received by the Foundation is invested for the community… forever.”

 The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation who harnesses the power of giving by generating income from donations and bequests and providing grants for worthwhile community projects.

 Grants applications are now open until 21 July. The Foundation invites funding applications from community groups who benefit the 4556 region. To find out more, go to www.buderimfoundation.org.au